Captain Cook Steps Down

Alastair Cook has stepped down as England cricket captain. The 32-year-old had led his country in 59 Test matches, the most of any England skipper.

The decision comes after England’s disappointing tour of India, losing the Test series 4-0.

Cook took up the role of England captain permanently in August 2012 after his stand-in spell as interim captain in 2010. His highlights include two impressive Ashes series wins over Australia in 2013 and 2015, as well as away Test series wins in India and South Africa.

He’s England’s highest run-scorer in Test cricket, with a whopping 11,057 runs- and his 140 Test appearances and 30 centuries are also records for the national side. Cook will continue to play in the side despite dropping the captaincy, and could continue playing for another 5 years.

The favourite to take over the mantle is Yorkshire’s Joe Root. The 26-year-old was Cook’s vice-captain, and looks set to take the role. Root has already won 53 caps, and taking the captaincy now would give him a couple of series’ experience as captain before the tricky trip to Australia for the Ashes next winter.

England don’t actually play a Test match until July, when they host South Africa.